Sleep inducing machine



Feb. 7, 1956 J. H. MILLER ET AL 2, 3

SLEEP INDUCING MACHINE Filed April 22, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mu I! I "i? \Q a l I H:

IN VENTORS.

Joseph whim/1411 805m Wdsan.

ATTD R N EYE Feb. 7, 1956 J. H. MILLER ET AL SLEEP INDUCING MACHINE 2 sheets shaet 2 Filed April 22, 1953 bmhtgj l 'llas a elAJVzlaozz. B 165:

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a ll- United States Patent SLEEP INDUCINGMACHINE Joseph Hinton Miller and Samuel Archie Wilson, Baltimore, Md.

Application April 22, 1953, Serial No. 350,433

4 Claims. (Cl. 40-33) This invention relates to devices for inducing sleep, and in particular a device reproducing by both vision and sound, the Wavesof the .sea, whereby with the device positioned, such as in a bedroom, in a plane at the elevation of the eyes of aperson sleep will be inducted by concentrating thereon.

The purpose of this invention is toprovidemeans for reproducing the action and sound of wavesofthe sea to expedite bringing on drowsiness and eventually, sleep.

Sleeplessness, in most cases can be attributed to the inability to relax particularly in men and women above the age of 50 or in naturally high Strung individuals or because of retaining business matters or worriesin the brain. The brain must contain blood to hold vSuch thoughtsand as one relaxes the surplusblood begins to recedefrom the brain. Sleep isinduced by reading; however,-the effort to followthe story or situation causes blood to remainin the brain. in concentrating on the action of theocean waves with both sight and soundno thoughts are involved and the result is the gradual reducing of the amount of blood inthe brain and as the blood leaves the brain,,the action of the waves in combination'with the sound, both of which are pleasing and restfulresults incomplete relaxationand sleep is induced.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a sleep inducing machine which simulates the action and sound of theocean waves.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im-. proved sleepinducing machine that isadaptedto be used in a bedroom of a; home or apartment.

A further object ofthe inventionis to; provide an improved sleep inducing machine whichis of a simple and economical construction. 1

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies .a substantiallybox-like casinghaving a windowin one side with a cylinder having representations of ocean waves thereonmounted to rotate in the casing and positioned to be observed through the window, means for rotating thecylinder and meansfor producing sound, similar to that produced byocean waves in the cylinder.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear'from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of themachine with the deviceillustrated as having a clock incorporated in the face thereof and with waves on the surface of a cylinder being visible through a window-in a-front Wall of'the housing.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the housing withparts broken away illustratedthe-mounting and operating means of the cylinder.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the cylinder taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the cylinder taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a view illustrating one of the baffles extended longitudinally through the cylinder.

Figure 6 is a view illustrating a baffle adapted to be positioned at a right angle to the bafile shown in Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is aview illustrating a wiring diagram showing a circuit for supplying current to the motor of the cylinder.

The drawings show one form of the device, and it will be understood that the casing or housing may beprovided in different designs, and the sound may be produced by means other than rice, beans, or thelike dropping over the corrugations and baflies on the inner surface of the cylinder.

In the design shown, the rippling or swishing sound of waves is produced by the granular objects rolling overthe corrugations of the cylinder wall and this is accentuated by the objects dropping from the baffles at intervals.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved sleep inducing machine of this invention includes a cylinder having a continuous wall '10 preferably formed of corrugated material with a sheet of material as indicated by the numeral 11 and having waves represented thereon positioned On the outer surface, a motor 12 for rotating the cylinder and a housing having a base 13, end walls 14 and 15, a front wall 16, a rear wall 17 and a top panel 18.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the cylinder is journalled in standards 19 and 23 with a shaft 21 and the cylindrical wall is mounted on the shaft with discs 22 and 23 providing ends.

The standard 19 is provided with a supporting flange 24 that is secured to the base 13 by screws 25 and the standard 2% is provided with a similar flange 26 which is secured to the base with screws 27.

The cylinder is provided with bafiles 28 and 29, as shown in-Figs. 5 and 6, respectively and, as shown in Fig. 5 the bafile 28 is provided with arcuate surfaces 30 and 31 which extend through the intermediate portion of the baffle and a slot 32 that extends inwardly from one end.

The bafile 29 is; provided with a similar slot 33 that also extends inwardly from one end of the baffle and with the baflles assembled, as shown in Fig. 4, the web portions of the baflie 28 is positioned in the slot 33 of the baffle 29 and the web portion of the bafile 29 is positionedin the slot 32 of the bafiie28. The sides of the baflie '29 are provided with recesses 34 and 35 through which granular particles thatmay be positioned in the cylinder drop as the cylinder rotates. The inner surfaces of the ends or discs 22 and 23 are provided with rough or corrugated faces, as indicated by the numerals 36 and 3v7, resp'ectively and with the parts assembled the surfaces 36 and 37' coact with the corrugations of the cylindrical wall whereby granular objects, such as rice, beans, and the likedrop or roll continuouslyover'the rough surfaces thereby providing sound imitating the sound of the waves of the sea. The baffles 28 and 29 may also be formed of corrugated material as shown in the sections illustrated in :Figs. 3 and 4.

The disc 22 is provided With a reinforcing or Wearing plate 38 that is secured to the disciwith screws 39, and a similar plate 40 is secured to the disc 23 withscrews 41. As illustrated in 'Fig. :3 the conical shapedheads of the screws d1 are positioned in countersunk openings in washers 42. The plate 40 is also provided with a 1 111 43 and ithehub is secured in position on the shaft with a pin 44.

The motorlZ, which is in the formof a clock motor, is mounted on the standard 20 with studs.flSand a.gear 46 extendedfrom thegnetor 12 meshes with a gear .47 on the end ofthe' shaft21, as shown in Fig. 2.

A reflector 48 is also mounted in the upper part of the housing and positioned against the inner surface of the front wall 16 and this reflector is positioned to reflect rays of light from a light bulb 49 on the surface of the cylinder to facilitate viewing the cylinder through the window 50 in the front wall 16.

A clock 51 may also be mounted on the front wall of the housing if desired.

In thedesign shown the front wall is provided with a transparent panel, as indicated by the numeral 52 and the transparent plate or panel is secured in position with a frame 53.

The upper portion of the housing is secured to the base with hooks 54, mounted with eyes 55 in the end walls of the housing, and positioned to snap through eyes 56 extended from the ends of the base.

-It will be understood that current may be supplied to the motor 12 and light 49 by suitable means; however, as illustrated in Fig. 7 thedevice may be provided with a plug 57 with wires 58 and 59 extended from the plug and with the wire 58 connected to one terminal of the motor 12 with a wire 60, the other terminal of the motor being connected by a wire 61 to the wire 59 through the clock 51 and the wire 62. The light 49 is connected in the circuit with a wire 63 connecting one terminal of the light to the wire 60 and with wire 64 connecting the other terminal of the light to the wire 61. The wire 64 is provided with a switch 65.

With the parts arranged in this manner the device is particularly adapted to be used in a bedroom with the housing positioned whereby the window is substantially level with the eyes. Should the device be positioned above the level of the eyes the light reflected on the cylinder would be too bright to relax the eyes.

The motor may be set to run continuously, or the circuit may be provided with a time delay relay or switch. such as the switch 66 that may be actuated by the clock so that after a predetermined period of time the circuit to the motor will be broken. With the cylinder rotating slowly and with the granular objects in the cylinder rolling over the corrugations and dropping from the battles the sound of the spray of the ocean hitting upon rocks or a bulkhead will be reproduced in the device.

Although the cylinder is painted to represent the waves of the sea it will also be understood that wavy lines representing waving grain in a field where currents of air are blowing over the grain, or leaves waving on branches of trees, or other objects or devices may be represented thereon.

The repetition of the same or similar formations on the surface of the cylinder passing before the eyes re sults in relaxation and, consequently, induces sleep.

A cylinder has been disclosed as being operated with a motor, such as a clock motor and it will be understood that the cylinder or other parts of the device may be actuated by prime movers or power means of electric or electronic actuated devices or the device may be operated by power derived from other sources; and it will also be understood that sound in the device may be produced by electric or electronic means or by other suitable noise making devices.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sleep inducing machine, the combination which comprises a substantially box-like housing having a front wall with a window therein and having a base, end walls, a rear wall and a top, a cylinder having a cylindrical wall with a corrugated inner surface and having a design repeated at equally spaced intervals on the outer surface thereof journaled in the housing, a shaft extended through the cylinder, upon which the cylinder is mounted, means journaling the shaft in the housing with the cylinder positioned whereby the design on the surface thereof is visible through the window in the front wall of the housing spaced longitudinally positioned baflles with recesses in intermediate parts thereof positioned against the inner surface of the cylindrical wall, a clock motor positioned in the housing and means operatively connecting the clock motor to the cylinder for rotating the cylinder.

2. In a sleep inducing machine, the combination which comprises a substantially box-like housing having a front wall with a window therein and having a base, end walls, a rear wall and a top, a cylinder having a cylindrical wall with a corrugated inner surface and having a design repeated at equally spaced intervals on the outer surface thereof pivotally mounted in the housing, a shaft extended through the cylinder, upon which the cylinder is mounted, means journaling the shaft in the housing with the cylinder positionedvwherein the design on the surface of the cylinder is visible through the window in the front wall of the housing, spaced longitudinally positioned bafiles with recesses in intermediate parts thereof positioned against the inner surface of the cylindrical wall, small objects freely positioned in the'cylinder and adapted to drop over saidbaffles, a clock motor positioned in the housing, means operatively connecting the clock motor to the cylinder for rotating the cylinder, and timing means adapted to be set to stop the clock motor after a predetermined period of time.

3. In a sleep inducing machine, the combination which comprises a substantially box-like housing having a front wall with a window therein and having a base, end walls, a rear wall and a stop, a cylinder having a cylindrical wall with a corrugated inner surface in the housing, right angularpositioned baflles having recesses in their intermediate portions extended longitudinally through the cylinder, the outer surface of said cylinder having a design repeated at equally spaced intervals on the surface thereof, a shaft extended through the cylinder, upon which the cylinder is mounted, means journaling the shaft in the housing with the cylinder positioned to be visible through the window in the front wall of the housing seed freely mounted in said cylinder and adapted to drop over the spaced longitudinally disposed baflles with the recesses in intermediate parts thereof to accentuate the sound of the rotating cylinder, a clock motor positioned in the housing, means operatively connecting the clock motor to the cylinder for rotating the cylinder, and timing means adapted to be set to stop the clock motor after a predetermined period of time.

4. A sleep inducing machine comprising a housing having a window therein, a cylinder having a design repeated at equally spaced intervals on the surface thereof journaled in the housing and positioned to be visible through the window, means for rotating the cylinder, the inner surface of the wall of the cylinder having longitudinally disposed ribs thereon, objects in the cylinder adapted to drop over the ribs, and spaced longitudinally positioned baffles with recesses in intermediate parts thereof positioned against the inner surface of the cylinder Wall over Which said objects drop at intervals to accentuate the sound.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,614,583 Zimmermann Ian. 18, 1927 1,622,928 Skitt Mar. 29, 1927 1,898,924 Willens Feb. 21, 1933 2,293,106 Bourdakoff Aug. 18, 1942 2,587,620 Hormann Mar. 4, 1952 

